Karen Cavanaugh-Schroder

Manager, HR Services, Middle Market Operations at Insperity

Connect with Karen Cavanaugh-Schroder on LinkedIn

Karen Cavanaugh began her career with Insperity in December 2012, and she has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of leadership, performance management, strategic planning and employee relations. She currently serves as Manager of Human Resources services for middle market clients at Insperity, and she works with clients to identify key HR solutions to help them grow their company and meet their business goals. She is certified in the Performance ThinkingÆ Practitioner Program (formerly Six Boxes), and she earned her bachelor's degree in social work and psychology from the University of Iowa and her Master of Business Administration in professional human resources from the University of Phoenix.

Articles by Karen

Flat-design illustration of a person sitting at a desk, completely hidden and buried under towering stacks of paperwork, binders, and office clutter.

Understaffed and overwhelmed? Here’s how to ease the pressure

Feeling the strain of a short-staffed team? Explore smart, flexible strategies to support your people and keep things running – without burning them out.

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Rethinking recognition: What really motivates your employees

A strong employee recognition program boosts morale, engagement and retention. Learn how to align it with your company’s values for lasting impact.

An isometric illustration of six people, five seated and one standing, around a white round table, engaged in a collaborative meeting with laptops, tablets, and phones.

How to increase employee engagement from the top down

What is quiet leadership, and when does it become a problem? Learn the signs of disengaged managers and how to increase employee engagement from the top down.

Illustration of a man and a woman engaged in a virtual video call on a computer screen, with speech bubbles above their heads indicating conversation.

Managing remote employees: 8 tips and best practices

Managing remote employees is everyday practice now, right? Has your leadership style changed? Check if you're utilizing these best practices.

Illustration of two women working at a desk. The left side shows a woman in casual attire with a laptop, potted plant, and a cat, representing a home office. The right side shows a woman in a suit with a desktop computer, a business graph, and books, representing a formal office. An orange mug with a heart sits on the desk between them.

What is a flexible workplace – and why should your company be one?

Employees want flexibility at work. But what does this mean for your business? Find out how to be a flexible workplace with these tips.

Illustration of two men in business suits having a virtual discussion on a computer monitor, with speech bubbles above their heads.

Managing remote teams: 9 tips to handle difficult conversations over distances

Having difficult conversations with employees is hard – especially when you’re managing remote teams. Here are some tips to make it easier.

Illustration of two faceless people. A person on the right holds out a clipboard to a person on the left, who holds a pencil, suggesting a survey or document interaction.

Manage up to your boss – your team will thank you for it

It's on you to manage up to your boss – to build a relationship of trust and help set realistic expectations for your team. Here's how.

Illustration of a diverse group of men and women of various ages and ethnicities, wearing business attire and glasses, seated in rows.

My employee has jury duty: an employer’s guide

Serving on a jury is a civic duty of citizenship. Here's a jury duty guide for employers for when an employee is summoned.

Illustration of two people arguing. One person has their back partially turned with a hand on their hip, while the other faces them with raised, clenched fists and yellow lines radiating from their head, indicating anger. Lightning bolts are above them, all against an orange background.

Managing emotional employees: 10 tips for keeping your cool

Every leader dreads managing emotional employees, but it's an important skill to cultivate. Here's 10 tips to handle volatile conversations.

Flat design illustration of a person sitting at a desk with a computer, raising their hand with a question mark speech bubble above their head.

Do you have needy employees? Check out these management tips

How do you manage the needy employee who seems to always be in your office looking for direction or reassurance? These seven savvy tips should help.

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Announcement of employee termination — what to tell staff

Telling your team a co-worker has been fired is never pleasant, but if handled correctly, you can avoid potential problems. Tips on how to tell staff here.

Illustration of a masked thief with a money bag surrendering while another man points an accusing finger at him.

How to spot employee theft and what you can do about it

The majority of your employees are hardworking, loyal, dedicated professionals – the heart of your business. But what happens when deception, theft or fraud raises its ugly head? Find out how to be prepared if this happens to you and how to minimize the damage to your business.